---
title: "Watch This Iraqi Soldier Stop An ISIS Car Bomb With A Bulldozer"
description: "A story of incredible bravery from Mosul amidst some of the toughest urban combat in decades."
date: "2017-05-19"
modified: "2017-05-19"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/10456/watch-this-iraqi-soldier-stop-an-isis-car-bomb-with-a-bulldozer"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "Bomb"
  - "bulldozer"
  - "Iraq"
  - "isis"
  - "Mosul"
---

# Watch This Iraqi Soldier Stop An ISIS Car Bomb With A Bulldozer

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/05/bulldozer.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

After months of intense urban combat, it appears that the Battle of Mosul [is finally crawling to a close,](<https://www.twz.com/8687/a-higher-risk-us-strategy-to-route-isis-from-mosul-emerges>) with Iraqi forces managing to liberate all but three square miles of the city from ISIS. Yet within the enemy's final entrenchment lies Mosul's Old City, [a dense neighborhood](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-islamic-states-last-stand-in-mosul-will-test-the-best-of-iraqi-forces/2017/05/18/ace4db26-3bb6-11e7-b9e3-606b45ad1e5b_story.html?utm_term=.fdc66ceef0a3>) of narrow, twisting alleys and tightly-packed houses. The fighting will be even tougher, the risk of an ambush even greater, but it appears the Iraqi military has an ace up its sleeve—the world's bravest bulldozer driver.

Iraqi forces have relied on a combination of armored vehicles (including bulldozers) to help free most of Mosul, but it's difficult to use big trucks and heavy machinery in the Old City. They literally don't fit. Making matters even more difficult, Mosul's Old City holds a special significance for ISIS, as it's where leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi first declared the establishment of a "caliphate" back in 2014. They're not going to give it up [without a serious fight.](<https://www.twz.com/6696/the-fight-for-mosul-grinds-to-a-bloody-crawl>)

Taken from inside the bulldozer's cab, the clip shows the vantage point of Sgt. Mohammed Ali as he works to make a path for his unit through the debris-filled streets outside the Old City. He turns the machine around just in time to see a dusty, home-brew armored car speeding straight towards him and his men, and without hesitating catches it with the blade and shoves it into a wall. Seconds later, the car explodes in a massive fireball.

https://youtube.com/embed/6kfGRc4cDvs

Ali escaped with minor injuries thanks to the bulldozer's armor and the blade acting like a blast shield, and he's reportedly in good spirits. We can't stress enough how courageous his actions were—he had no way of knowing how many explosives were packed into that little car, and he made the split-second decision to potentially sacrifice his life to save his unit. Give this guy all the medals.

https://twitter.com/_/status/864849985917071360

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)